Phelsuma parkeri, commonly known as Parker's day gecko and the Pemba Island day gecko, is a diurnal species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to Pemba Island, Tanzania, and typically inhabits banana trees and dwellings. The Pemba Island day gecko feeds on insects and nectar.
Etymology Both the specific name, parkeri, and one of the common names, Parker's day gecko, are in honor of English herpetologist Hampton Wildman Parker.Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii+ 296 pp. . (Phelsuma parkeri, p. 200).
Description Parker's day gecko is a slender lizard and a mid-size day gecko. It can reach a total length (including tail) of about . The body colour is bright green. A faint red stripe extends from the nostril to the eye. On the back and limbs tiny black spots and speckles are present. This species has yellow eye rings. The ventral side is white.
Geographic distribution The Pemba Island day gecko is found only on 1,340-square-kilometre (517-square-mile) Pemba Island, which has a few much smaller islands around its coast, and which is from the Tanzanian mainland.
Habitat Phelsuma parkeri is often found on different large trees such as banana trees and palms. This species also lives near or on human dwellings.
Diet Parker's day gecko feeds on various insects and other invertebrates. It also licks soft, sweet fruit, pollen and nectar.
Behaviour The Pemba Island day gecko is quite shy and stays so, even in captivity.
Reproduction The females of P. parkeri are colony nesters, and many eggs can be found at one location. The neonates measure about .
Care and maintenance in captivity Parker's day gecko should be housed in pairs. It needs a large, well planted terrarium. The temperature should be about during the day. The humidity should be maintained around 65–75% during the day, and slightly higher at night. In captivity, it can be fed crickets, wax moth larvae, fruit flies, mealworms, and houseflies.
References
Further reading
Henkel F-W, Schmidt W (1995). Amphibien und Reptilien Madagaskars, der Maskarenen, Seychellen und Komoren. Stuttgart: Ulmer. . 311 pp. Loveridge A (1941). "New Geckos (Phelsuma and Lygodactylus), Snake (Leptotyphlops), and Frog (Phrynobatrachus) from Pemba Island, East Africa". Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 54: 175–178. (Phelsuma madagascariensis parkeri, new subspecies, pp. 175–176). McKeown S (1993). The General Care and Maintenance of Day Geckos. Lakeside, California: Advanced Vivarium Systems. 143 pp.